Cauda equina syndrome in a patient diagnosed with type 1 Gaucher disease: a rare case.

BACKGROUND: Gaucher disease is a rare hereditary glycolipid storage disease. One of the rare complications is neurodeficits due to vertebral involvement. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old female patient presented to the outpatient clinic with cauda equina syndrome due to sacral involvement of type 1 GD. Bilateral laminectomy via posterior approach without posterior stabilization was performed. CONCLUSION: Maximum excision of the mass avoiding destabilization of the spinal column can provide long-term vertebral stability and improvement in neurodeficits.

Strabismus in hydrocephalus patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of strabismus in patients with hydrocephalus. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients with strabismus and hydrocephalus is performed in the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology between 2012 and 2018. RESULTS: Seventeen patients between the ages of 6 months and 13 years met the criteria of strabismus and hydrocephalus. Although all had developmental delay, five patients out of 17 were premature (lower than 36 weeks of gestation). All patients had ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for congenital hydrocephalus. Three patients had exotropia, whereas 14 had esotropia. Glasses were prescribed to 13 patients: hyperopic correction in 12 and myopic correction in one patient. Surgical correction with bimedial recession was performed in five patients. Four of them achieved successful ocular alignment. CONCLUSIONS: Children with hydrocephalus most likely have esotropia. Although good ocular alignment is achieved with surgical correction in some patients, some patients may benefit from glasses.

Bilateral epidural hematoma.

Bilateral epidural hematomas are very rare and are associated with high mortality. The purpose of this study is to identify the clinical features, mechanisms, and outcomes of bilateral epidural hematomas. This report considers 19 cases of bilateral epidural hematoma hospitalized between 1987 and 1997. All of the cases, with the exception of three, were diagnosed within the first 6 h. The neurologic evaluations on admission and during hospital stay were based on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Hematomas were determined by CT scans in all cases. The patients were evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale after 6 months. In 13 patients, the bilateral epidural hematoma was in the midline. In six patients, hematomas were at different locations on either side. Surgical approach was chosen as the primary treatment modality in 18 patients. One was treated conservatively. The mortality rate was 15.7% in this series. With the widespread use of CT scan, diagnosis before deterioration of the neurological status affects the results of surgery and prognosis or even presents the possibility of a conservative treatment.